Concerns are mounting among researchers, advocates, and policymakers as Donald Trump assumes office for a second term, reigniting fears of diminished access to critical environmental and public health data. His first term saw federal websites purged of climate change references, and this time, proposals for budget cuts and agency overhauls could further jeopardize data collection and transparency. Environmental advocates warn that these changes could hinder decision-making processes vital to combating climate change and protecting vulnerable communities.

During Trump’s first term, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website saw a significant reduction in information on climate change. Now, with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy at the helm of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, plans for sweeping staff and budget cuts could undermine the collection and maintenance of key environmental datasets. This includes the Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJScreen), a critical resource for identifying areas disproportionately affected by pollution and other environmental hazards.

“Without consistent updates, tools like EJScreen are like operating a modern computer on Windows 95—outdated and insufficient for today’s needs,” says Gabriel Watson of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Federal agencies could face challenges not just in maintaining these tools but in ensuring that they reflect current on-the-ground realities, which change rapidly due to urban development, migration, and emerging pollution sources.
Adding to the uncertainty is Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s administration that includes eliminating the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, which manages EJScreen. Proposed changes to the census, including the addition of a citizenship question, could exacerbate data gaps, particularly among marginalized groups. Civil rights advocates warn that these shifts could reduce the accuracy of socioeconomic indicators crucial for assessing environmental justice.

Grassroots efforts to archive government data, honed during Trump’s first term, are already underway. The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI) is partnering with the End of Term Web Archive project to preserve vital environmental datasets and web content. “We may see massive data deletion or the deterioration of data because it’s not actively managed,” says EDGI cofounder Gretchen Gehrke.

Climate transparency remains a linchpin for global progress in combating the climate crisis. Access to comprehensive and accurate data ensures policymakers, scientists, and local planners can make informed decisions, from preparing for extreme weather events to mitigating long-term environmental damage. It empowers communities to advocate for better protections and holds industries accountable for environmental harm. As climate change continues to exacerbate disasters worldwide, clear, accessible information is critical to building resilience and achieving global sustainability goals.

Advocates stress the importance of preserving data for public use, science, and policy. “We want to make sure this work done for United States citizens is available,” says Mark Phillips, a university librarian specializing in archiving federal information. “So that it doesn’t go away and just become lost.”
 

BOB Post